Maggie Langdon

Sponsored by RebuttalPR

What initially inspired you to specialize in plaintiff personal injury law, and how has your motivation evolved over the years?

I really link it back to my childhood. I grew up with a father who practices product liability—we work together now. When I was young, he had a client who was about my age who was paralyzed from the waist down after a lap belt case. He would sometimes pull me out of school or camp, and I would spend time with her while her parents met with my dad. That was just a normal part of my life—meeting clients over time, whether they were coming to our home for dinner after cases resolved or inviting us to their homes. A running joke during law school was that the Dean of Career Services said I was born in the plaintiff's Kool-Aid.

Once I graduated and became a barred attorney, I started in prosecution and public service, spending years in court advocating for people during some of the hardest moments of their lives. That experience taught me two things: first, that courtroom skills matter, and second, that ordinary people are often overwhelmed by systems they don't fully understand. The judicial system is complex, and without proper training, it is very difficult to navigate. Plaintiff's work allows me to combine advocacy with accountability. I was very drawn to the idea that litigation could not only help a family rebuild, but also create safer practices moving forward.

Can you share specific cases that had a significant impact on you professionally? What lessons did you take away?

I want to talk about two cases. The first is one I actually worked on prior to law school, when I was a legal assistant at the firm. That client ended up becoming a very close family friend—we still have a good relationship and actually have a livestock partnership with him now.

He had served in the military for many years as an XO in the Marine Corps, spending at least three years as a helicopter pilot. After coming home, he was T-boned by a company van that pushed his truck and trailer off the road and into a ravine. He fractured his back and sustained a serious traumatic brain injury. That case opened my eyes to the work we actually do. I was still a bit skeptical at first—you see TV ads and hear people say they need a million dollars for a broken thumb—but actually getting to know him as a person and his family showed me what real need looks like. We tried the case in federal district court in Missouri, got a successful jury verdict, and the appeal was unanimous in his favor. Even in a small role, you can make an enormous difference.

The second is a more recent case involving a client who was sexually assaulted. That one was vastly different. It required us to not only be advocates but to truly listen and hear what she needed. There were a lot of complexities outside of the incident itself, but once things were resolved and seeing the client say, 'oh my goodness, I finally get to have some freedom from this whole situation'—that was one of the greatest moments I've had since practicing. Clients come to us in a vulnerable state, and combining empathy with advocacy is everything. Yes, I'm a lawyer, but I'm still a human being, and every one of our clients deserves the utmost respect, the best listening ears, and a real breakdown of what the process means for them.

What are some of the most significant challenges you've faced as a female attorney in this field, and what strategies have you employed to overcome them?

It's no secret that the legal field is still heavily male-dominated. I always get excited when I see law school enrollment data, because more and more women are entering the profession and entering plaintiff's practice every year. Without the women in the profession—whether support staff, paralegals, IT, bookkeeping, or attorneys—cases don't get moved. You can't talk to your clients the way you want to, and nothing else happens without women.

Finding a work environment that truly lifts up women has been a hugely positive experience for me. I remember early in my career, on one of my very first criminal dockets, an older male attorney approached me and said, 'sweetie, listen.' Immediately, I thought: this is not going to go the way either of us want. It's a fine line between confidence and being perceived as 'too aggressive' when you're a woman. During a women's caucus in law school, someone noted that a man can be a bulldog, but if a woman does that, she's referred to by a very different kind of dog name. We all have to be cognizant of that.

Being authentic to yourself and finding other women in the profession—whether they also do plaintiff's work or are opposing counsel—and building those mentorships is the best thing you can do. Having people to rely on who understand what it is you're going through as a woman in a male-dominated profession makes all the difference.

Are there any mentors or role models who have been pivotal in your career? How have they influenced your professional path?

One of my greatest mentors of all time is a judge at the Missouri Court of Appeals. I had the privilege of clerking for him during law school. We jokingly call him my sensei—a little Karate Kid reference. From day one, he never talked down to me, was never condescending. This is someone who has been a judge on multiple benches and has lived and breathed prosecutorial and civil work—everything I was wanting to do, he had already done.

One thing he always reminded me is that once your foot is in the door, you need to continue to hold it open for other people. It went so far beyond just tactical advice on trial experience. It was also deeply personal: here's why you should get to know opposing counsel; here's why you should get to know the judges you're in front of.

We also have a wonderful organization in Kansas City—the Association of Women Trial Lawyers of the Greater Kansas City area—open to any woman attorney, not just plaintiff attorneys. Their mentorship program is one of the best I've encountered: a rotating system where you have more than one mentor, and everyone comes from different walks of life. We have a full-time mediator, a federal judge, defense counsel—all in one group. It's another way to explore what works as a woman in this field. Even when someone might be your adversary in court someday, you often share the same challenges. It's nice to be able to lean on each other.

Have you noticed a shift in how women support each other in the profession—that 'all boats can rise' mentality—compared to how things may have felt years ago?

Yes, I feel it very strongly from the plaintiff's side with organizations like the Society, and through our local bar organizations in Kansas and Missouri. The women go out of their way.

At one annual conference for a local bar association, we were looking at the lineup of the next several presidents, and it was all men. And we said: the women here are very involved—what is going on? That opened up a real conversation about how we can boost one another for leadership roles, because it's not like we're sitting on the sidelines.

A funny example: we play in a lawyer softball league. We say it's for our summer clerks, but it's really for the associates. There are about 14 other law firms and a public defender's office, and we've been playing for over a decade. Last year, our team was almost entirely women. An attorney from an opposing team approached one of our colleagues' boyfriends and said, 'There's no way you guys have that many women at your law firm.' He didn't even work for the firm. Every inning, the same guy kept circling back with questions like, 'Are these the girlfriends of the attorneys?' It was mind-boggling—even while playing softball, which is ostensibly a women's sport, he couldn't process that many women being attorneys. But I'm fortunate to be surrounded by people who understand that a woman's place is wherever she wants to be.

How has working at a firm with so many women leaders impacted your career, your approach, and the way you work with clients?

With building client relationships, the first step is always trust. I can't speak highly enough about the people I get to work with every single day. There's not a day that goes by when I don't say, 'thank God my paralegal exists,' because I would be lost without her. That goes for the legal assistants, the admins—every single person in our organization lifts each other up and asks, 'How can I help you fill in those gaps?' I'll give the men at our firm credit too: I work on a wonderful team with very different personalities that blend well together, and everyone's strengths complement each other.

Especially with women clients in vulnerable cases—like the sexual assault case I mentioned, or a client who, for religious reasons, does not speak to men—having women on the team matters enormously. What started as, 'well, thank God we have you,' evolved into something much deeper. I could build a relationship with that client in ways that went far beyond just making her more comfortable. Sharing lived experience, being vulnerable with the client in return—not oversharing, but letting them know you're a real person too—gives them the sense that you actually want to listen and care what they have to say. And when clients trust you more, even when you have a really difficult set of facts, you can more easily walk through the challenges together. I had a case not long ago where I asked a client to do a little homework: point out what you think is good for your case and what's not. After we'd walked through everything together, that client came back and said, 'I get it now.' That open, honest empathy is what makes the biggest difference.

Balancing work with personal life can be challenging in a demanding field like this. How do you manage that balance, and what advice would you give others?

I don't think there is a perfect balancing system. I laugh with my friends who are accountants, because we have a lot of overlap in busy season. But they'll say, 'Wait—you have more than one busy season,' and I say, 'Yeah, all the time is busy season.'

Staying grounded in who you are as a person is where it starts. You can't lose your individual identity in your work, your clients, or your deadlines. Those things are super important, but so is your mental health, because if you don't maintain it, you're not effective for your clients. One thing that works for me: I take one day a week—every single week if possible—that is just for me. Me and my dogs. We might go on a hike, hang out at home, or meet up with friends. At least one day a week where I intentionally spend time with friends, family, or just myself.

Boundaries are also essential—with coworkers, referring attorneys, defense attorneys, clients, and even with yourself regarding your own limitations. If clients are calling or texting you at 10 or 11 on Friday and Saturday nights, you have to set those limits. You have to have your own life at the end of the day. There's no exact science to balance. It's about what brings you joy, what brings you happiness and solidarity. A little reward for yourself—'I kicked today's butt, and now I'm going to relax by the pool with my best friends.' Simple things like that really make the difference.

What advice would you give to women attorneys who are just starting out in this area of the law?

First and foremost: be authentic to yourself. It's easy to hear other attorneys say you have to do this or be that, and while you should always listen to advice, you have to apply it in a way that's still true to you. What works for one person in the courtroom doesn't work for everybody.

Find a network of other women. Whether that's a formal mentorship program, an organization like the Society of Women Trial Lawyers, or just a group of friends from law school. Coming into work is fun every day because I enjoy the people I work with—and that's not the case everywhere. You need other women to rely on, and the earlier you find those connections, the better for the longevity of your career. Sometimes it's just nice to have somebody to vent to—to say, 'Can I tell you what opposing counsel emailed me about today?' We all experience a lot of the same challenges.

Also build your support system outside of the profession. I have a very hard time turning off the lawyer switch—my brain doesn't shut off 24-7. But being able to give yourself permission to just sit and enjoy a meal with friends, to not talk shop, to watch a movie without researching—those things matter. And as women, we're often told we're supposed to be and do and say particular things, but that's not always how it needs to be. Be true to yourself, be authentic, and find mentorship.

Why are organizations like the Society of Women Trial Lawyers important to you, and how have they impacted your work?

I feel very strongly about the Society of Women Trial Lawyers. It's given me a new breath of fresh air. Burnout is real, and when you notice it happening, it usually comes during your busiest stretch. Organizations like the Society create a safe environment to talk with other women who have gone through similar trials and tribulations and say, 'I'm really struggling with this,' or 'I don't know how I should present this case.'

The annual conference is something special. Last year, two co-workers came with me. This year, six joined me—one of whom presented at the conference. Every single one of us walked away with more confidence, not just in our ability to be lawyers, but in our womanhood. You get out of it what you put in. I've never encountered an organization that so effectively accomplishes what it set out to do: supporting, helping, mentoring, and advocating for women in this profession.

And the impact doesn't stop with the trial attorneys. When we came back from the conference, one of our male partners asked me to send an email to the whole office about what we experienced. I was a little uncomfortable at first, but I did it—and it was incredibly rewarding to bring that energy back, not just to the attorneys but to all of our staff. To remind everyone: our work doesn't happen without the women in this office. People said, 'I feel kind of seen right now.' Making people feel seen and heard is one of the best things we can do for each other in this profession, and it's something the Society always offers.